Cutting and closure mechanism for ticket or voucher dispenser and method

ABSTRACT

A cutting and closure mechanism for a ticket or voucher dispenser and a method for dispensing a ticket or voucher from a free standing roller printer provided with a shutter to prevent unwanted access to the ticket exit opening to prevent jamming or a backing-up of the printed tickets and comprises a connection to check and on/off card and provided with a shaft  2  connected to an eccentric cam  3  having a pin  4  associated with a combined shutter  6  and a movable blade  7 . Counterposed to movable blade  7  is an immovable blade  8  on parallel or staggered or juxtaposed planes, with blades  7, 8  positioned near an exit slot  9  for exiting of the printed ticket and to cut the ticket. The roller printer body  10  then determines an anti-breaking and containment structure for the shutter  6  maintained by a spring  11  juxtaposed to blade  8  so that the blades are maintained adjacent to each other so that the blades can cut the tickets and the shutter closes the exit opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims priority from European Patent Application SerialNo. 08425211.3 filed 31 Mar. 2008, and the subject matter thereof isincorporated herein by reference as if written herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with a roller printer and a cutting andclosure mechanism for cutting tickets or vouchers after printing of theticket or voucher by the roller printer and to prevent any entry to theexit portion of the ticket or voucher from the roller printer for theprinted ticket or voucher and produced by the roller printer anddispensed from the roller printer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In the field of roller printers for use in the printing of vouchers andtickets, it is known that opening or exit shutters are placed ontoslots, openings or exits from the roller printer exits from which theprinted ticket or voucher exits and can be obtained by a purchaser oruser.

The known opening shutters are conventionally driven by means of anelectromechanical device so that when it is necessary to provide for thedischarge of a ticket or voucher, the printer shutter or morespecifically the shutter at the exit or discharge orifice opens toprovide an exit from which the printed voucher or the printed ticketexits to be removed by a recipient. These shutters have the aim orpurpose to avoid any unwanted acts, such as acts by vandals, includingfor example, the introduction of different materials or objects into theprinter exit slot from which the tickets or vouchers or equivalent itemsare to be removed and exit, and the shutters are intended to provide forthe discharge of the vouchers or tickets in sequence and also to preventundesired access to the roller printer, and to assure the properoperation of the printer which can be damaged because the tickets orvouchers back-up when the exit slot is jammed or otherwise obstructed.

In the known prior art, the devices to print vouchers by means of rollerprinters, the roller printers generally consist of a cutting deviceplaced downstream from the printing head. When such a roller printer isto be placed in a public place for dispensing of printed tickets orvouchers such roller printers are designed and intended to operateautomatically once an individual accesses the dispensing machine ordispensing device with a coin or other indicia. With a roller printerlocated in a publicly accessible area, the public user or intendedrecipient of the intended printed ticket or voucher can directly removeor take the voucher or ticket from the roller printer, and such printersare usually or conventionally equipped with two specific and differentdevices.

One of the aforesaid heretofore known specific devices is a device forthe cutting of the voucher or ticket from the conventional internalpaper roll after the printed voucher or ticket is completely printed,and a second independent known device is a shutter device which isprovided such that when the conventional independent shutter opens theprinted ticket or voucher exit to permit the removal of the printedticket or voucher the shutter is normally rendered operative to preventintroduction of any foreign matter inside of the enclosure or bodyenclosing the roller printer.

This prior art independent shutter device only opens to permit theremoval of the voucher or the ticket, and the shutter is substantiallyimmediately closed by means of automatic controls. An electric motor isconventionally provided which normally drives or controls the workingphase or operation of the independent shutter also provides for orpermits the opening and closing of the shutter for scheduled periods ortimes during the working period.

It is obvious that in order to have or provide for a cutting device anda predetermined time period for the opening and closing of the shutterdevice, this operation which depends on the coordination of time periodsfor the opening and closing of the shutter together with the cuttingoperation results in high manufacturing industrial costs such that thetotal costs ultimately determine the total costs to the workingmanagement of the two devices used in the prior art roller printers.Moreover, it is known that it is also possible for individuals to blockor interfere with the dispensing of the printed tickets or vouchers intothe exit slot because of an external blockage of the exit slot whichresults in an accumulation of printed tickets or vouchers waiting toenter the exit slot or opening to dispense the printed tickets orvouchers, and the accumulation of undispensed printed tickets orvouchers along the exit and shutter way can take place because of thelack of ability of the printed tickets or vouchers to be dispensed. Thiscauses the roller printer to be rendered inoperable or delayed ordamaged with a resultant increase in the maintenance costs to reset orreprogram the roller printer dispensing mechanism. Besides thecomplexity of the heretofore known roller printers with the twodifferent devices, this complexity provides for a higher possibility ofbreakdowns or jamming of one of the two devices, as well as the blockageof the exit opening, as well as damage to the independent shutter with aconsequent impossibility for the continuous operation of the automaticdevice for printed tickets and vouchers.

LIST OF ALBERTO CAMPANINI INVENTIONS

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,436, issued Sep. 28, 2004 based on U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 10/147,174, filed: May 8, 2002,        entitled: THERMAL PRINTER CLOSING APPARATUS    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,356, issued: Feb. 13, 2007 based on U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 10/147,174 filed: May 8, 2002,        entitled: HEAD SUPPORT BASE FOR THERMAL PRINTER    -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,322,760, issued: Jan. 29, 2008 based on U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 11/193,214 Filed: Jul. 29, 2005,        entitled: ANTIJAMMING DEVICE FOR PRINTERS PUT IN PUBLIC PLACES    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/272,277 Publication No.: US        2006/0152574 Filed: Nov. 10, 2005 Title: LASER WRITING HEAD FOR        PRINTER    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/581,770 Publication No.: US        2007/0166093 Filed: Oct. 16, 2006 Title: AUTOMATIC OPENING        DEVICE FOR A PRINTER GATE    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/960,956 Publication No.: US        2008/0229892 Filed: Dec. 20, 2007 Title: LIMITING DEVICE FOR        ROLL PRINTER    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/057,430 Publication No.: US        2008/0247799 Filed: Mar. 28, 2008 Title: THERMAL PRINTER HEAD        WITH PRINT CONTROL DEVICE    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,216 Filed: Jan. 20, 2009        Title: PRINTING ROLL RELEASE OF THE HEAD IN THE THERMAL PRINTER    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/403,419 Filed: Mar. 13, 2009        Title: PRINT CONTROL DEVICE FOR A THERMAL PRINTER

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1. electric motor-   2. shaft-   3. eccentric cam-   4. pin-   5. hole-   6. shutter-   7. movable blade-   8. immovable blade or counter blade-   9. slot or exit for ticket or voucher-   10. rolling printer body or enclosure or frame-   11. spring-   12. passage-   13. paper roll-   14. printing head

There are various conventional elements and structures which have notbeen assigned reference numerals because they are considered to beconventional and well-known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaidproblems of the prior art and to increase the operability of stand aloneroller printers for dispensing printed tickets or vouchers.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of repair of theroller printer and to provide a combined shutter and ticket or vouchercutter for roller printers in which the shutters for automatic rollerprinters cooperate with the cutting operation and cutting device andwhich combined shutter and cutting device is driven by an electric motorand the exit portion for the tickets or vouchers is opened by theshutter solely for permitting the ticket or voucher to be moved out ofthe roller printer through the exit and to provide a cutting bladeintegrated with the shutter for the combined and cooperating dispensingand cutting operation. In this way, following the printing of the ticketor voucher and removal of the ticket or voucher from the automaticroller printer, the shutter automatically closes the ticket or voucherexit opening after cutting or severing of the ticket or voucher portionfrom the conventional paper supply roll, and the cutting blade iscapable of automatically cutting a final part of the paper containingthe last printed ticket from the paper supply roll onto which thetickets are printed.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a scissors-type cut,in addition to the combined shutter with cutting blade combination thatis present, provision is also made for one blade to be a counter-bladeor immovable fixed blade which is mounted onto the frame or body of theroller printer in such a manner that a printed ticket when passing thecounter blade towards the exit opening, the ticket or voucher passesover the movable blade, and the combined movable blade and shutter moveaway from the exit slot to permit the ticket or voucher to pass betweenthe movable and immovable blades and with a reverse movement of thecombined shutter and movable blade, the ticket or voucher is cut by thecooperative action of the two blades, and after cutting of the ticket orvoucher the shutter closes the exit opening.

Yet another object of the invention is to integrate the cuttingmechanism formed by the aforesaid immovable blade and movable blade toprovide a cutting apparatus integrated with the shutter, such that themanufacturing cost provided is reduced and a minor complexity of theautomatic roller printer is determined by integrating in a sole orsingle device the cutting and the opening and the closing steps of theshutter together with the ticket cutting operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide for an energetic saving inthe working of the same printer.

To these ends, the present invention consists in the provision of acutting and closure mechanism for a ticket or voucher dispenser forcutting tickets or vouchers after printing of the tickets or vouchersand for preventing any entry into the exit portion for the printedtickets or vouchers for a roller printer for printing of the tickets orvouchers and for dispensing of the tickets or vouchers through the exitopening, comprising a roller printer body 10 containing a paper roll 13capable of having tickets or vouchers printed thereon, the rollerprinter body 10 including a ticket or voucher exit opening 9 downstreamfrom said paper roll 13, and cutting and exit-entry control means 6, 7and 8 for cutting the printed ticket or voucher and for preventing anyunwanted entry into said exit opening 9 including a shutter 6 foropening and closing the exit opening 9 when the printed ticket orvoucher is to be dispensed through the exit opening 9 and for preventingaccess to the exit opening externally of the roller printer body 10 whenthe roller printer body 10 is not to dispense a printed ticket orvoucher, and the cutting and exit-entry control means includes a movableblade 7 coupled with the shutter 6 and movable together with the shutter6 relative to a stationary blade 8 to permit said printed ticket orvoucher to move between the blades through the exit opening 9 when themovable blade 7 and shutter 6 are moved from a closed position closingthe exit opening 9 to an open position for the exit opening 9 with themovable blade 7 cooperating with the stationery blade 8 to cut theprinted ticket or voucher and the shutter 6 are moved to the closingposition for closing the exit opening 9 upon completion of cutting ofthe ticket or voucher.

The invention also includes an eccentric cam 3 coupled with a motor 1,and a pin 4 coupled with the eccentric cam for imparting vertical motionto the movable blade 7 from rotary motion imparted to the eccentric cam3 by the motor 1. The output shaft 2 of the motor 1 is connected withthe eccentric cam 3 by means of the pin 4, and pin 4 is displaced fromand parallel with the output shaft 2, the output shaft 2 being coupledwith a substantially central portion of the cam 3.

A further feature of the mechanism is the provision of an output shaft 2coupling the motor 1 to the eccentric cam 3 for imparting rotary motionto the eccentric cam 3.

Another object of the invention is to provide the stationary blade witha pair of oppositely disposed parallel faces, at least one of which islonger than the other with a first stationary face extending from thecutting tip of the stationary blade 8 and extending from the secondstationary face of the immovable blade is a slanting portion forming anacute angle with the cutting tip, and the movable blade also has a firstmovable blade face extending from its cutting tip and forming with theshutter 6 a combined unit, said first stationary face and said firstmovable face being integral with and forming part of the shutter andbeing juxtaposed to each other in their non-cutting condition with theshutter 6 portion of the movable face closing said exit opening 9 andparallel to each other in their cutting condition to permit the printedticket or voucher to provide for the cutting tips to cut the printedtickets or vouchers, and spring biasing means having one end abutting toa second face of the movable blade and its other end coupled to the body10 for maintaining the blades juxtaposed to each other in theirnon-cutting condition so that the blades 7, 8 in their non-cuttingcondition permit the shutter 6 portion connected with the movable blade7 to perform the function of a closure for the exit opening 9 to preventany extraneous entry into the exit opening 9. The tip points of theblades 7, 8 are oppositely disposed. Both blades have one substantiallystraight side and one substantially slanting side extending from thecutting tip forming an acute angle therebetween, and the slanting sidesare substantially parallel to each other and the straight sides arejuxtaposed to each other and substantially parallel with each other andthe straight side of the movable blade forms the shutter for closing theexit opening.

It should also be noted that the first stationary face extends from thecutting tip of the stationary blade 8, and the movable blade has a firstmovable blade face extending from the cutting tip of the movable blade 7and forming with the shutter 6 a coordinated unit movable together withthe movable blade, the first stationary face and the first movable facebeing juxtaposed to each other in their non-cutting condition with theshutter 6 closing the exit opening 9 and substantially parallel to andfacing each other to establish a cutting area between the blades intheir cutting condition while opening the exit portion and forming ascissor cutting condition to permit the printed ticket or voucher toprovide an area for the cutting tips of the blades to cut the printedtickets or vouchers. A spring is provided with one end abutting thesecond face of the movable blade forming the shutter portion thereof andthe other end is coupled to the roller printer body 10 for maintainingthe blades juxtaposed to each other in their non-cutting condition whileclosing the exit opening so that blades 7, 8 in their non-cuttingcondition permit the shutter 6 connected with said movable blade 7 toperform the function of a closure for the exit opening 9 to prevent anyextraneous entry into said exit opening 9.

To align the printed ticket with the exit opening a paper passage 12between the paper roll 13 and the exit opening 9 is provided fixed tothe body 10 for aligning the printed ticket or voucher with the exitopening 9 and the blades 7, 8 to permit the printed ticket or voucher topass between said blades 7, 8 for severing the printed ticket or voucherfrom the paper supplied by the paper roll 13. Also provided is aprinting head 4 positioned between the passage 12 and the paper roll 13.

It should be noted that an important feature of the invention is theprovision of a cutting and entry-exit control means for defining asingle combined movable blade and shutter mechanism for closing andshutting the exit opening 9 after the printed ticket or voucher is cut.

The cutting and exit-entry control means 6, 7 and 8 in addition todefining a single combined blade and shutter mechanism for closing andshutting the exit opening 9 subsequent to cutting the printed ticket orvoucher also closes the exit opening and define a combined scissorcutter formed by the movable and the stationary blade.

A feature of the invention is that the motor 1 driving the shutter 6with the movable blade 7 forms an anti-breaking support structure whilethe shutter 6 and the movable blade 7 are maintained inside a slidingseat by means of a spring 11 placed between an inside part of theshutter 6 and a part of the printer frame or body 10. An output shaft 2is coupled with the motor 1 and connected with eccentric cam 3 by thepin 4, the pin 4 being displaced from and parallel with the output shaft2, the output from the output shaft 2 being coupled with a substantiallycentral portion of the cam 3.

Another feature of the invention is that the shutter 6 is fixed onto theframe or body 10 of the roller printer such that the blades 7, 8 havecounterposed cutting edges positioned on staggered planes and positionedproximate to the slot or exit opening 9 for removal of the printedticket or voucher. The tip points of the blades 7, 8 are oppositelydisposed.

It should be noted that both of the blades have one substantiallystraight side and one substantially slanting side forming an acute angletherebetween, and the slanting sides being substantially parallel toeach other and co-act with each other to form a scissor cuttingoperation and the straight sides being juxtaposed to each other andsubstantially parallel with each other.

An important feature of the invention is that the shutter 6 is fixedonto the frame or body 10 of the roller printer such that the blades 7,8 have their counterposed cutting edges positioned on staggered planesand positioned proximate to the slot or exit opening 9 for removal ofthe printed ticket or voucher.

The shutter 6 is provided with a hole or opening 5 for receiving pin 4,and is provided at a remote portion thereof with the movable blade 7having its upper portion provided with a cutting edge along a directionaway from the movement of the shutter, the shutter 6 and the movableblade 7 together forming a unitary member, with the immovable blade 8being in a counterposed position to the movable blade 7 and the shutter.

Another feature of the invention is that the invention can be consideredto be a fastener provided with a cutting blade for a roller printer,including an electric motor 1 provided with a connection to a check andan on/off card, the shutter 6 is provided with a hole 5 for receivingthe pin, the shutter 6 being provided with the movable blade 7 havingits upper portion provided with a cutting edge along a direction awayfrom movement of the shutter, and the immovable blade 8 is in acounterposed position to the movable blade 7, the shutter 6 being fixedonto the frame 10 of the roller printer such that the blades 7, 8 havecounterposed cutting edges positioned on staggered planes and arepositioned proximate to the slot or exit opening 9 for removal of theprinted ticket or voucher, and the motor 1 drives the shutter 6 with themovable blade 7 forming an anti-breaking support structure while theshutter 6 and the movable blade 7 are maintained inside a sliding seatby means of the spring 11 placed between an inside part of the shutter 6and a part of the printer frame or body 10.

The invention is also concerned with a method for preventing unwantedaccess to a printed ticket or voucher dispensing apparatus which isprovided with a cutting and closure mechanism for cutting tickets orvouchers after printing of the tickets or vouchers which prevent anyentry to the exit portion for the tickets or vouchers for a rollerprinter for printing of the tickets or vouchers and for dispensing thetickets or vouchers through the exit opening and includes steps ofproviding a body 10 containing a paper roll 13 for printing of thetickets or vouchers thereon, the body 10 including an exit opening 9downstream from the paper roll 13 to be closed to prevent entrythereinto when a ticket or voucher is not being dispensed, andcontrolling the cutting and exit entry portion for cutting the printedticket or voucher and for preventing any unwanted entry into the exitopening 9 by coupling a movable blade to a shutter movable relative to astationary blade 8 with the movable blade 7 and cooperating with thestationery blade 8 to cut the ticket or voucher and with the shutter 6and movable blade 7 combination having the shutter portion of themovable blade closing the exit opening after cutting of the ticket orvoucher.

In the method, the eccentric cam 3 is coupled with the motor 1 andhaving its output shaft coupled with the eccentric can, by means of thepin 4 which is coupled with the eccentric cam and displaced from theoutput shaft for imparting vertical motion to the combined shutter 6 andmovable blade 7 impart rotary motion from the motor to the eccentric cam3 for imparting linear motion to the combined shutter and movable blade.

The spring is provided for biasing the shutter for maintaining theblades juxtaposed to each other both in the cutting operative conditionand non-cutting and non-operative condition for the shutter to close theexit opening to prevent any extraneous entry into the exit for thetickets or vouchers.

Other aims and advantages of the invention are better pointed out in thesubsequent detailed description of a preferred but not exclusiveembodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other advantages and features will be further understood from thefollowing figures which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention of a roller printer provided with a stationary blade andcombined movable blade and shutter exit opening and closing mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the movable blade and shutter of thecombined movable blade and shutter closing and opening mechanismprovided with an upper portion forming a movable blade with the lowerportion of the movable blade performing the function of the shutter orexit opening and closing mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a front view partially in perspective of a ticket or voucherdispensing terminal or kiosk provided with an automatic roller printerfor printing tickets or vouchers located in an unattended public area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate apresently preferred mode for carrying out the invention, and thecombined movable blade and shutter closing mechanism and a stationaryblade which together form a cutting mechanism and an exit openingclosing device for a roller printer according to the invention andincludes a conventional electric motor 1 provided with a connection toan on/off card for control (not shown) and fixed to a fixed body member10 forming a part of the kiosk or free standing terminal containing theroller printing mechanism and its associated parts. Electric motor 1 isprovided with a conventional output shaft 2 having one end connected tomotor 1 and the other end of output end connected to an eccentric cam 3.The eccentric cam 3 is provided with a pin 4 displaced radially from acentral axis of output shaft 2 to impart vertical motion to a movablecutting blade 7.

Cutting blade 7 has a lower portion 6 which acts as or performs thefunction of a shutter to close-off exit opening or slot 9 when a ticketor voucher is not to be dispensed from exit opening or slot 9. Theshutter portion 6 of movable blade 7 is provided with an opening or hole5 (see FIG. 2) which is displaced from shaft 2. Pin 4 and shaft 2 whiledisplaced from each other are parallel to each other.

Pin 4 is inserted into a hole or opening 5 provided in shutter 6.Shutter 6 at an opposite end of opening 6 is provided with the cuttingportion of movable blade 7 and has a slanted cutting surface and makesan acute angle with its outermost tip. The upper portion of blade 7 hasits cutting edge along the movable direction of the shutter 6. In acounterposed position to blade 7, and fixed onto the frame or body 10 ofthe roller printer, is a fixed or immovable blade 8. Immovable blade 8is provided with a cutting edge placed on a vertical plane notcoinciding with the plane of the blade 7. Blades 7 and 8 with theircountetposed cutting edges are positioned on staggered planes and arepositioned near the slot or exit 9 for exiting of the printed ticket orvoucher, the size of slot or exit 9 being sufficient to permit theexiting of the printed ticket or voucher but not provided with spacesufficient to permit someone to introduce or insert the fingers of ahuman inside of the opening 9 to gain entry to the mechanism or to blockthe slot or exit 9. Blades 7 and 8 cooperate together and when movablerelative to each other effectively form a scissor for cutting purposes.

The tip points of blades 7 and 8 are oppositely disposed, and blade 8also has an inclined surface forming an acute angle with one side of theblade. Both blades 7 and 8 have one substantially straight side and onesubstantially slanting side. The straight sides of both blades aresubstantially parallel to each other, and the slanting sides of bothblades are substantially parallel to each other.

Blade 8 is stationary and fixed to body 10, and blade 7 moves in asubstantially vertical direction relative to blade 8 as shown in thedrawings and when used in its kiosk environment, while at all timesmaintaining the straight sides of blades 7 and 8 parallel with eachother. For this purpose, a spring 11 is provided fixed to body 10 and asshown in FIG. 1 fixed to passage 12 for printed tickets or vouchers topass or move from paper roll 13 to exit opening or slot 9. Cutting takesplace as blade 7 moves vertically in response to movement impartedthereto by motor 1 to sever a ticket or voucher as it passes betweenblades 7 and 8 while blade 8 remains stationary and fixed to body 10 inresponse to the vertical motion imparted to shutter 6 by movement ofeccentric cam 3 as motor 1 rotates.

Shaft 2 has its output end connected to eccentric cam 3 and rotation ofshaft 2 imparts vertical motion to shutter 6 as a result of shutter 6having an opening to receive a pin 4 for connection by means of pin 4 toeccentric cam 3.

Near the immovable or stationary blade 8 along the inside wall of body10 shutter 6 together with the blade 7 are housed in a sliding seatproximate to and abutting blade 8 when exit or slot 9 is closed andjuxtaposed to each other when blades 7 and 8 are separated to provide aclear passageway from the interior of the roller printer to the outsideof the roller printer. Motor 1 drives shutter 6 which is formedunitarily with the movable blade 7, and motor 1 also forms ananti-breaking support structure when the shutter 6 with the blade 7 ismaintained inside the sliding seat by means of spring 11, placed orpositioned between the inside part of shutter 6 and part of the printerframe or body and connected with passage 12.

Spring 11 has one end fixed to body 10, and the other or free end ofspring 11 exerts pressure onto the combined shutter 6 and movable blade7 to maintain blade 7 in contact with immovable blade 8 to close exitopening or slot 9. Spring 11 has its free end abutting the side of blade7 with the slanting side.

Passage 12 for transport of printed tickets or vouchers is positionedbetween paper supply roll 13 and blades or knives 7 and 8 and isprovided for aligning the printed vouchers or tickets supplied frompaper roll 13. The paper roll is pulled by means of a conventional paperdrawing roll (unnumbered) and printing takes place onto the paper rollby means of a conventional printing head 14 positioned between movableblade 7 and the supply portion of paper roll 13 and arrives at theopening/closing portion area of shutter 6 of the combined shutter 6 andblade 7. In the working step of the printer normal advancing of thepaper from the paper roll 13 by means of the conventional paper drawingroll with printing on the paper from the paper roll by the printing head14 is actuated when a ticket or voucher is to be printed. The printingoperation onto the paper from the paper roll is conventional.

The printed paper then passes inside the suitable ticket or voucherpassage 12. At the exit portion of passage 12, the printed paper whichnow forms a completed printed ticket or voucher exits from passage 12and conventional control and start devices (not shown) commence theoperation of electric motor 1 to drive and rotate shaft 2 to rotateeccentric cam 3 to open the exit opening 9 as shutter 6 is lowered toprovide access to the exit opening 9.

Rotation of shaft 2 by electric motor 1 which is connected witheccentric cam 3 by means of pin 4 transmits vertical motion to shutter6. Shutter is in its closed position or non-operating conditioneffectively forming a non-use step, i.e. in an upper position insidebody 10. Shutter 6 is lowered to provide for an exit for the printedticket or voucher following the rotation of electric motor 1 and withthe necessary time periods provided by the conventional control device(not shown). The control device effectively also controls the speed ofelectric motor 1 to provide for the necessary time duration for cuttingand closing of the exit so that tickets of various different sizes canbe made and appropriately cut.

Following to the rotation of shaft 2 eccentric cam 3 reaches theposition in which when pin 4 is in its lower most point or positionpermitting the paper ticket or voucher to exit from passage 12 and moveto exit opening 9 and be dispensed through slot or exit 9. After theprinted ticket exits in the times and ways provided by the conventionalcontrol and starting devices (not shown) coupled with electric motor 1,rotation of shaft 2 is completed and shutter 6 is again moved into itsupper position as shown in FIG. 1. During the ascent step, movable blade7 cooperates with immovable blade 8 and together cut the paper ticket orvoucher with the required printing thereon.

After the paper or ticket voucher is cut, shutter 6 together with blade7 is moved into its upper position and closes slot 9 from which theprinted ticket was or is removed by the user.

The closing arrangement of the shutter 6 with blade 7 according to theinvention actuates the cutting of the printed paper ticket or vouchercoming from paper roll 13, and therefore dust, dirt or other undesirableelements are prevented from entering into the inside part of the rollerprinter and thereby damaging the head, the paper or other parts insidethe roller printer.

While there has been shown and described what is considered to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A cutting and closure mechanism for a ticket or voucher dispenser forcutting tickets or vouchers after printing of the tickets or vouchersand for preventing any entry into the exit portion for the printedtickets or vouchers for a roller printer for printing of the tickets orvouchers and for dispensing of the tickets or vouchers through the exitopening, comprising: a roller printer body (10) containing a paper roll(13) capable of having tickets or vouchers printed thereon, said rollerprinter body (10) including a ticket or voucher exit opening (9)downstream from said paper roll (13); and cutting and exit-entry controlmeans (6, 7 and 8) for cutting the printed ticket or voucher and forpreventing any unwanted entry into said exit opening (9) including ashutter (6) for opening and closing said exit opening (9) when theprinted ticket or voucher is to be dispensed through said exit opening(9) and for preventing access to said exit opening externally of saidroller printer body (10) when said roller printer body (10) is not todispense a printed ticket or voucher, and said cutting and exit-entrycontrol means including a movable blade (7) coupled with said shutter(6) and movable together with said shutter (6) relative to a stationaryblade (8) to permit said printed ticket or voucher to move between saidblades through said exit opening (9) when said movable blade (7) andshutter (6) are moved from a closed position closing said exit opening(9) to an open position for said exit opening (9) with said movableblade (7) cooperating with said stationery blade (8) to cut said printedticket or voucher and said shutter (6) are moved to said closingposition for closing said exit opening (9) upon completion of cutting ofsaid ticket or voucher.
 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, includingan eccentric cam (3) coupled with a motor (1), and a pin (4) coupledwith said eccentric cam for imparting vertical motion to said movableblade (7) from rotary motion imparted to said eccentric cam (3) by saidmotor (1).
 3. The mechanism according to claim 2, including a shaft (2)coupling said motor (1) to said eccentric cam (3) for imparting rotarymotion to said eccentric cam (3).
 4. The mechanism according to claim 1,wherein said stationary blade has a first stationary face extending fromthe cutting tip of said stationary blade (8), and said movable blade hasa first movable blade face extending from the cutting tip of saidmovable blade (7) and forming with said shutter (6) a combined unitmovable together with said movable blade, said first stationary face andsaid first movable face being juxtaposed to each other in theirnon-cutting condition with said shutter (6) closing said exit opening(9) and parallel to and facing each other to establish a cutting areabetween said blades in their cutting condition forming a scissor cuttingcondition to permit the printed ticket or voucher to provide an area forsaid cutting tips of said blades to cut the printed tickets or vouchers,and spring biasing means having one end abutting to a second face ofsaid movable blade and its other end being coupled to said rollerprinter body (10) for maintaining said blades juxtaposed or parallel orstaggered to each other in their non-cutting condition so that saidblades (7, 8) in their non-cutting condition permit the shutter (6)connected with said movable blade (7) to perform the function of aclosure for said exit opening (9) to prevent any extraneous entry intosaid exit opening (9).
 5. The mechanism according to claim 4, includinga paper passage (12) between said paper roll (13) and said exit opening(9) fixed to said body (10) for aligning the printed ticket or voucherwith said exit opening (9) and said blades (7, 8) to permit the printedticket or voucher to pass between said blades (7, 8) for severing saidprinted ticket or voucher from the paper supplied by said paper roll(13) as said movable blade (7) moves against said stationary blade (8)to sever said ticket or voucher from said paper roll (13).
 6. Themechanism according to claim 4, including a printing head (4) positionedbetween said passage (12) and said paper roll (13).
 7. The mechanismaccording to claim 6, wherein said cutting and entry control means (6, 7and 8) define a single combined blade and shutter mechanism for closingand shutting said exit opening (9) subsequent to cutting the printedticket or voucher and closing the exit opening and a combined scissorcutter formed by said movable and said stationary blade.
 8. Themechanism according to claim 2, including an output shaft (2) coupledwith said motor (1) and connected with said eccentric cam (3) by saidpin (4), said pin (4) being displaced from and parallel with said outputshaft (2), said output from said output shaft (2) being coupled with asubstantially central portion of said cam (3).
 9. The mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein the tip points of the blades (7, 8) areoppositely disposed.
 10. The mechanism according to claim 1, whereinboth said blades have one substantially straight side and onesubstantially slanting side forming an acute angle therebetween, andsaid slanting sides being substantially parallel to each other andco-act with each other to form a scissor cutting operation and saidstraight sides being juxtaposed to each other and substantially parallelwith each other.
 11. The mechanism according to claim 2, wherein themotor (1) driving the shutter (6) with said movable blade (7) forms ananti-breaking support structure while said shutter (6) and said movableblade (7) are maintained inside a sliding seat by means of a spring (11)placed between an inside part of said shutter (6) and a part of theprinter frame or body (10).
 12. The mechanism according to claim 1,wherein the shutter (6) is fixed to the frame or body (10) of the rollerprinter such that said blades (7, 8) have counterposed cutting edgespositioned on staggered planes and positioned proximate to said slot orexit opening (9) for removal of the printed ticket or voucher.
 13. Themechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shutter (6) is provided witha hole (5) for receiving a pin (4), said shutter (6) being provided at aremote portion thereof with said movable blade (7) having its upperportion provided with a cutting edge along a direction away from themovement of the shutter, said shutter (6) and said movable blade (7)together forming a unitary member, and said immovable blade (8) being ina counterposed position relative to said movable blade (7) and saidshutter (6).
 14. A fastener provided with a cutting blade for a rollerprinter, comprising: an electric motor (1) provided with a connection toa check and an on/off card; a shaft (2) connected to an eccentric cam(3) provided with a pin (4); a shutter (6) provided with a hole (5) forreceiving said pin, said shutter (6) being provided with a movable blade(7) having an upper portion provided with a cutting edge along adirection way from the direction movement of the shutter movement, andan immovable blade (8) in a counterposed position relative to saidmovable blade (7); said shutter (6) being fixed onto the frame (10) ofthe roller printer such that said blades (7, 8) have counterposedcutting edges positioned on staggered planes and are positionedproximate to a slot or exit opening (9) for removal of a printed ticketor voucher; and said motor (1) driving the shutter (6) with said movableblade (7) forming an anti-breaking support structure while said shutter(6) and said movable blade (7) are maintained inside a sliding seat bymeans of a spring (11) placed between an inside part of said shutter (6)and a part of said printer frame or body (10).
 15. The mechanismaccording to claim 1, wherein said stationery blade (8) is fixed to saidroller printer body (10).
 16. A method for preventing unwanted access toa printed ticket or voucher dispensing apparatus which is provided witha cutting and closure mechanism for cutting tickets or vouchers afterprinting of the tickets or vouchers which prevent any entry to the exitportion for the tickets or vouchers for a roller printer for printing ofthe tickets or vouchers and for dispensing the tickets or vouchersthrough the exit opening, comprising the steps of: providing a body (10)containing a paper roll (13) for printing of the tickets or vouchersthereon, said body (10) including an exit opening (9) downstream fromsaid paper roll (13) and closing the exit opening (9) to prevent entrythereinto when a ticket or voucher is not being dispensed and a ticketor voucher is not being cut; controlling the cutting and exit entryportion for cutting the printed ticket or voucher and for opening theexit opening for dispensing of the printed ticket or voucher forpreventing any unwanted entry into the exit opening (9) when a ticket orvoucher is not to be dispensed by coupling a movable blade to a shutter(6) which form a combined unit and are movable relative to a stationaryblade (8) with the movable blade (7) and the stationery blade (8)cooperating with each other to cut the ticket or voucher and with theshutter (6) of the combined shutter (6) and movable blade (7) closingthe exit opening after cutting of the ticket or voucher.
 17. The methodaccording to claim 16, providing an eccentric cam (3) coupled with amotor (1) having an output shaft coupled with the eccentric can, andproviding a pin (4) coupled with said eccentric cam and displaced fromthe output shaft for imparting vertical motion to the combined shutter(6) and movable blade (7) to impart rotary motion from said motor to theeccentric cam (3) for imparting linear motion to the combined shutterand movable blade.
 18. The method according to claim 17, including aspring biasing the shutter for maintaining the blades juxtaposed to eachother both in the cutting operative condition and shutter closingnon-operative condition for the shutter to close the exit opening toprevent any extraneous entry into said exit provided solely for theexiting tickets or vouchers.
 19. The method according to claim 18,including maintaining the blades in a parallel relationship aftercompletion of a cutting operation and maintaining the blades in a spacedrelationship to each other prior to a cutting operation to permit aprinted ticket or voucher to pass therebetween prior to commencement ofthe cutting operation.